Anime Review - The Imaginary (2024)

Studio Ponoc was founded by Yoshiaki Nishimura, a former lead film producer at Studio Ghibli. The studio is a spiritual successor to Ghibli in many ways, from the art style to the nature of the stories being told. This was evident in their first film, Mary and the Witch’s Flower, and The Imaginary continues this trend of feeling like a film made by the Oscar-winning studio.

The film follows Rudger, not to be confused with the name Roger. He is the imaginary friend of Amanda. They share thrilling adventures, but one day something happens, and Rudger finds himself in the Town of Imaginaries. This is where forgotten imaginations live and help other kids with their adventures. However, Rudger wants Amanda to him so they can be together again. Meanwhile, a mysterious man is after Rudger and could threaten his existence.

As mentioned before, this looks and feels like a Ghibli film, but at the same time, it also feels like Diet Ghibli. It has the wonder and awe of a film like Spirited Away during the lavish and fantastical playtime sections. However, when the film slows down and you look at the characters’ faces, something just looks off. At times, it felt like one of those AI videos imagining what if Wes Anderson made Star Wars. Yes, the film is still stunning and looks great in motion, but I feel it has all the wonder but none of the soul.

The same can be said for the story. While it does have a core narrative that is very universal, focusing on creativity and self-expression, I just didn’t find the main cast relatable. I never had an imaginary friend growing up—or so I’ve been told—so Rudger felt like a non-entity to me. Amanda, while potentially an interesting character, gets sidelined early on in favor of focusing on Rudger and the mysterious Mr. Bunting. Mr. Bunting, as a villain, is simply a mess. His motivations feel underdeveloped, and while the idea of him being the end of imagination could have worked, it leads to moments where I wondered why he didn’t act sooner, as his powers seem restricted for plot reasons. Additionally, the idea that Amanda forgets Rudger feels very haphazardly put together.

When the credits rolled, the first thought that came to my mind was: What if Studio Ghibli had made this? I feel that by trying to be a successor to Ghibli, Studio Ponoc has ended up as a studio without its own identity. This is a shame, as there is the foundation of a solid film here, but it is buried under so much baggage that it left me scratching my head in boredom.